Prologue, Act 1 Scenes 1 - 5. Unlike many plays or stories, we are told what is going to happen throughout the play (plot). It is a story of two families.

Romeo and JulietPrologue, Act 1 Scenes 1 - 5

PrologueUnlike many plays or stories, we are told

what is going to happen throughout the play (plot).It is a story of two families who hate each otherTheir children fall in love and wind up

committing suicideThis will end the feud between the two

families.What you are not told is the specific details.What are things that you would want to know

as a viewer or a reader?

Act 1 Scene 1 SummaryGregory and Sampson, two members of the house of

Capulet, pick a fight with members of the house of Montague.

Benvolio (House of Montague) tries to intervene and stop the fight but Tybalt (House of Capulet) continues to fight

Prince Escalus (ruler of Verona) threatens death to any Capulet or Montague who continues to fight

After leaving the town square, Lord Montague questions Benvolio as to why Romeo is so depressed.

Benvolio finds out that Romeo is in love but the girl he loves does not love him.

Benvolio vows to help Romeo get out of his depression.

Key CharactersHouse of

CapuletGregorySampsonTybaltLord Capulet

House of Montague

BenvolioLord

MontagueRomeo

Town of Verona

Prince Escalus

Quotes you should knowL. 44-45 – “No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at

you, sir; but I bite my thumb sir” – SampsonL. 63-64 – “What, drawn and talk of peace! I

hate the word/As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. – Tybalt

L. 89-90 – “If ever you disturb our streets again,/Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace” – Prince Escalus

L.226-227 – “By giving liberty unto thine eyes;/Examine other beauties” - Benvolio

VocabularyPernicious – harmful or destructiveMr. Manning’s comments to the class were quite pernicious. l. 77 “ That quench the fire of you pernicious rage”Adversary – Enemy or opponent Jude was successful wrestling his adversary from Maine

West. l. 99 “Here were the servants of your adversary”Augmenting- adding to, or enlargingAfter taking English with Mr. Manning, James was able to

augment his vocabulary. l. 125 “With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew”Portentous – ominous or threateningMr. Manning glared at Vincent in a portentous fashion. l. 134 “Black and portentous must this humour prove.”

Vocabulary Part IIPropagate – reproduce or increaseDamaris was able to propagate the volume of the

gym with her awesome cheering.l. 184 “Which thou wilt propagate to have it prest”Purg’d – get rid of or expelChris was able to purge all of the Krupa Loopa

monsters when he was playing Mario Bros.l. 188 “Being purged, a fire sparkling in lover’s

eyes”Discreet – showing good judgment: perceptiveDaniel was discreet in displaying his emotions after

receiving the highest grade in the class.l. 190 What is it else? A madness most discreet”

Lord Capulet is confident that there will be no more violent interactions with the House of Montague

Paris expresses a desire to marry Lord Capulet’s daughter, JulietLord Capulet is reluctant to allow this for the following reasons:

Juliet is too young He is worried about her having children She is his only child

Capulet tells Paris to come to his house and look at other woman before they discuss marrying Juliet

Capulet sends a servant who cannot read to go and hand out invites to party guests

Benvolio and Romeo come upon the servant and help himAt this point, Benvolio encourages Romeo to go to the Capulet

ball and compare the women there to the fair Rosaline (the girl who broke Romeo’s heart)

What is the potential problem that may occur?What is ironic about what is happening?

Act 1 Scene 2 Preview/Summary

Key CharactersHouse of Montague

Romeo – still depressed

Benvolio – convinces Romeo to attend the Capulet Ball

House of CapuletLord Capulet – not

looking to start anymore trouble, against Paris marrying Juliet

Paris – wants to marry Juliet

Servant – sent to invite guests to the party but he cannot read.

l. 2-3 “In penalty alike; and tis not hard, I think,/For men so old as we to keep the peace.” – Capulet

l. 16 -19 “But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,/My will to her consent is but a part;/And, she agreed, within her scope of choice/Lies my consent and fair according voice.” – Capulet

l. 86-88 “Go thither; and with untainted eye/Compare her face with some I will show,/And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.” - Benvolio

Important Quotes/Lines

NONE!

Act 1 Scene 2 - Vocabulary

Lady Capulet comes to see Juliet.The audience is introduced to the Nurse who

will provide the audience comic relief throughout the play.

Lady Capulet asks Juliet about marriage.The discussion between Lady Capulet, the

Nurse, and Juliet is regarding Juliet’s age and her desire to get married. Juliet is asked to give serious consideration to Paris who will be a dinner guest.

Act 1 Scene 3 Preview/Summary

House of CapuletJuliet – main character, she is asked to think

about marriageNurse – has raised Juliet and is her confidantLady Capulet – Juliet’s mother.

Key Characters

l. 68-69 “Marry that “marry” is the very theme/I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,/How stands your disposition to be married?” – Lady Capulet

l. 101-103 “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move;/But no more deep will I endart mine eye/Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.” - Juliet

Important lines

Obscur’d – hid, darkenedMr. Manning closed the blinds so the sun was

obscured from the roomL. 89 “And what obscur’d in this fair volume

lies…”

Vocabulary

Benvolio, Romeo, and Mercutio are on their way to the Capulet ball.

Romeo is still depressed and does not want to go to the party

Mercutio delivers the famous “Queen Mab” speech to Romeo

Romeo than tells of his feeling that this party will bring unfortunate events to him.

Act 1 Scene 4 Preview/Summary

House of MontagueRomeo – still lovesick over his lost loveBenvolio – wants to go to the Capulet ball

Towns people• Mercutio – teasing Romeo about being

depressed about being love

Key Characters

l. 112-117 – “I fear, too early; for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/With this night’s revels, and expire the term/Of a despised life clos’d in my breast/By some vile forfeit of untimely death.” - Romeo

Important lines

Deformities – irregularities; disfigurementsl. 31 “What curious eye doth quote

deformities?” – MercutioThere were a lot of deformities in Mr.

Manning’s presentation.

Vocabulary

The scene takes place at the Capulet ball.Romeo spots a beautiful girl across the room and

immediately falls in love.Tybalt spots Romeo across the room and becomes

angry – he feels that Romeo is mocking the Capulets – Lord Capulet, however, stops Tybalt from confronting Romeo

Romeo and Juliet dance with each other and fall in love not realizing who each other is.

At the end of the scene both Romeo and Juliet are upset when they find out the person they are in love with is from an enemy family.

Act 1 Scene 5 Preview/Summary

The attitude of Capulet – he does not seem as angry or confrontational

The attitude of Tybalt – he does not like the house of Montague (we also saw this in the first scene)

Nobody seems to know what the feud is aboutRomeo – still thinking about Rosaline?What do you think will happen to Romeo and

Juliet now?

Things to consider

Lord Capulet – host of the party, comfortable with the Montague’s being there

Romeo – falls in love with Juliet immediatelyTybalt- shows great hatred for RomeoJuliet – falls in love with Romeo immediatelyBenvolio- tells Romeo that Juliet is a CapuletNurse- tells Juliet that Romeo is Montague

Key Characters

• l. 52-53 “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!/ For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” – Romeo

• l. 61-63 “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,/A villain that is hither come in spite/To scorn our solemnity this night.” - Tybalt

• l. 123-24 – Is she a Capulet?/O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” - Romeo

• l. 144-45 “My only love sprung from my only hate!/Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” – Juliet

Key Lines/Quotes

Nuptial – wedding; marriageL. 34 “Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio”Mr. Manning stood up for his friend’s nuptials.Disparagement- criticism; censureL. 71 “here in my house do him disparagement”Mr. Manning disparaged the thought of a student not doing

his homework.Profane – dishonor; make impureL. 96 “If I profane with my unworthiest hand”Mr. Manning acted profanely after finding out he did not

win the lottery.Prodigious – terrible; extraordinaryL. 146 “Prodigious birth of love it is to me” It was a prodigious set of circumstances that caused Mr.

Manning to lose his wrestling match to Jude.

Vocabulary